Catriona Matthew charges into contention in major

Catriona Matthew's four-under 67 was the vest of the day by two shots

The 46-year-old had been sitting below the projected cut mark in the second women’s major of the season after an opening 77 that included a triple-bogey 6 at the short 17th.

But she leapt up 55 spots to lie joint-11th following a four-under-par second-day effort that was the best of the day by two shots at the venue in Sammamish.

It was also the North Berwick woman’s career-low round in the event.

Matthew, who finished runner-up to Inbee Park three years ago, carded five birdies - at the third, fifth, ninth, 11th and 14th.

Her only dropped shot came at the par-4 12th as she moved to one-over, just three shots off the lead, held by Canadian Brooke Henderson and South Korea’s Mirim Lee.

“I actually played pretty well yesterday, but I had a bad hole at 17, and dumped two in the water,” said Matthew, a former British Women’s Open champion.

“But, apart from that, I played well. Today, I played well again, but hit the 17th green this time and gave myself a chance.”

Others in with a chance of claiming the title include world No 1 Lydia Ko, who is lying joint-third after rounds of 71 and 70.

Holly Clyburn, Matthew’s main rival in the battle to join Charley Hull in Team GB at the Olympics in Rio, missed the cut.

Elsewhere, Colin Montgomerie sits five off the lead after two rounds in the latest over-50s major, the Constellation Senior Players, in Philadelphia.

The big Scot signed for seven bogeys and four birdies in an up-and-down second round at Philadelphia Country Club. His 73 left him sitting joint-15th on three-over.

American Brandt Jobe (69-69) leads by one from compatriot Scott Dunlap and defending champion Bernhard Langer.

On the PGA Tour, Martin Laird missed the cut by a shot following rounds of 72 and 70 in the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis.

Daniel Berger leads by three shots on nine-under, with Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson all sitting four off the pace.